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The Australian Defence Force has conducted a joint training exercise with Papua New Guinea Defence Force personnel with newly acquired LandCruiser armoured vehicles.
Personnel from the Australian Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment (third brigade) took part in the training with PNGDF personnel using PNG’s new fleet of 12 up‑armoured LandCruisers.
Australia had previously gifted the LandCruisers armoured personnel carriers to PNG during a ceremony at Murray Barracks in Port Moresby in August last year.
The vehicles are envisioned to be used by the PNGDF for internal security operations and assist interoperability with the Australian Defence Force.
“An ADF team is leading training this week at Goldie River Training Depot, supporting PNGDF personnel as they build skills in protected mobility and learn to operate the vehicles safely and effectively across challenging terrain,” according to a public statement from the Australian High Commission Papua New Guinea.
“The highly manoeuvrable LandCruisers are already proving their value as they navigate tough environments and demonstrate their role in future PNGDF operations.
“This activity highlights the strength of the partnership between Papua New Guinea and Australia, reflecting our shared values and longstanding commitment to regional security and cooperation.”
Earlier this year, the Australian government confirmed more than 3,500 Australian Combat Assault Rifles will be supplied to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force.
The 5.56mm Australian-made automatic rifles will be manufactured at Thales Australia’s manufacturing facility in Lithgow, NSW, and supply to the PNGDF under a larger $35 million defence aid package and PNG–Australia Mutual Defence Treaty was announced late last year.
The PNGDF previously used similar standard configuration M16A2 assault rifles and even Australian-made L1A1 self-loading rifles, compared to the Australian Defence Force’s 5.56mm NATO-chambered EF88 bullpup-style rifles.
“These rifles are an excellent example of sovereign industrial defence capability and our ability to make high-quality manufactured export goods right here in Australia,” Australian special envoy for Defence Luke Gosling said.
